1. For Flint’s concerns related to an adequate provision supply while he was assistant commissary general of purchases, see GW to Samuel Huntington, 13 Dec. 1779, n.1, and Flint to GW, 3 Jan. 1780; see also GW to Flint, 4 January. Writing his letter of resignation to GW on 6 Feb., Flint expressed the belief that “the Legislature of Connecticut are taking measures to supply the army with beef.” The Connecticut legislature had begun a special session on 6 Jan. that adjourned on 2 March (see Conn. Public Records description begins The Public Records of the State of Connecticut . . . with the Journal of the Council of Safety . . . and an Appendix. 18 vols. to date. Hartford, 1894–. description ends , 2:448).

2. For Ephraim Blaine’s appointment as commissary general of purchases, see Jeremiah Wadsworth to GW, 29 Oct. 1779, n.5. Blaine traveled to Boston because he had “no Connections or Acquaintances in that Quarter, & is desirous of establishing such as will best promote the Business of his office” (Elbridge Gerry and James Lovell to the Massachusetts Council, 23 Jan. 1780, in Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 14:364; see also Blaine to GW, 25 Feb.).

Blaine’s authority to act in Connecticut came from a congressional resolution passed on 7 Jan. (see JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 16:20–21). Samuel Huntington, president of Congress, enclosed this resolution when he wrote Connecticut governor Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., on 8 Jan. to relay the “apprehension” of Congress “on account of the small supply of beef for the present necessities of the army & to request the immediate aid of the Legislature of Connecticut to the Commissary General of his Assistant in procuring & forwarding the Same.

“The present necessity of the Army is truly pressing & alarming & the matter of supplies seems to admit of no delay. The Army are it is said without meat. The Commissary will forward a Sum of money immediately to Connecticut to purchase supplies; in the mean time it is most earnestly requested that the Legislature of Connecticut will lend the necessary Aid to the Commissary to forward a Quantity of Beef with all possible Despatch” (Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 14:328).

3. GW replied to Flint on 26 March: “I am much obliged to you for the interest which you still take in our supplies, as expressed in your favor of the 10th instant; and for your intentions to forward this business by a personal representation on the subject to the Governor & Council.

“I cannot doubt but that, whether a private citizen, or one acting in a public capacity, the good of your country will always be your principal object” (Df, in James McHenry’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW; the date of this letter is taken from the docket of the draft). GW had expressed similar sentiments when he wrote Flint on 7 Feb. to acknowledge his resignation.

During a special session held between 13 and 22 April, the Connecticut legislature provided £40,000 to Henry Champion, Sr., deputy commissary general of purchases, for “purchasing and forwarding beef-cattle for the use of the army” (Conn. Public Records description begins The Public Records of the State of Connecticut . . . with the Journal of the Council of Safety . . . and an Appendix. 18 vols. to date. Hartford, 1894–. description ends , 2:528). Encouragement from GW likely played a role in this legislative action (see GW to Trumbull, 8 Jan., and Trumbull, Sr., to GW, this date; see also Henry Champion, Sr., to GW, 18 April).